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Decoy cops look for drivers who break crosswalk law

Margaret F. Bonafide, @mfbonafide
12:35 p.m. EDT July 2, 2014

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A warning form that was handed out to some drivers who failed to stop for a pedestrian in the crosswalk in front of the post office on Main Street in Farmingdale is seen in a 2010 file photo.
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SEA GIRT – A police officer in casual clothes will work along First Avenue as a decoy this holiday weekend looking for drivers who violate the pedestrian crosswalk law, authorities announced.

Detective John DeMillio said the object of the campaign is to educate drivers about pedestrian crossing laws.

A lot of people cross First Avenue to go to the beach, he said. Last year the campaign found 30 drivers who were issued pamphlets about the law regarding pedestrians. Police recorded license information from that event.

Violators of the pedestrian right of way laws will be stopped, their information recorded and entered into a warning system, DeMillio said. They will also get a pamphlet about pedestrian right-of-way laws.

Drivers are required in the state to stop for crossing pedestrians and no driver shall pass a vehicle stopped for crossing pedestrians, police said. Drivers who fail to stop for a pedestrian in marked crosswalk are subject to two points and a fine of $200, court costs and surcharges.

Police will enforce this throughout the summer periodically at multiple locations, he said.

The point of the operation is educating drivers, he said.

“We are not out there to hand out summonses,” DeMillio said. However, if a blatant violation is observed, police will take appropriate actions, he said.

Last year on Memorial Day police recorded 30 warnings for pedestrian violators but issued no summonses in a 90-minute period, DeMillio said.